What does a nursing technician do?

A nursing technician is a professional healthcare provider who works in partnership with nurses and other healthcare professionals to provide direct care to patients in a variety of healthcare settings.

It can provide services in places such as homes, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and rehabilitation clinics.

Do you know what a nursing technician does?

The nursing technician carries out a series of activities related to his position, let's get to know some of them:

Assist nurses and doctors

Nursing technicians work directly with nurses and doctors, in a very close relationship.

They share relevant information about patients, participate in team meetings, and follow the guidance of the healthcare professionals responsible for their care.

When patients are in the ICU, the relationship with them ends up being even closer.

Administers medications

Another role of the technician is the administration of medications, usually under the supervision of a nurse.

They administer oral, topical and injectable medications according to what the doctor prescribes during their visits.

Sample collection

Furthermore, the technical nursing professional will collect samples of blood, urine and feces or other bodily fluids necessary for examinations.

They must follow appropriate collection procedures and ensure correct identification and storage of samples.

Provide first aid

In many public health units we can find technicians who provide first aid to patients.

They can perform dressings, immediate care, triage and assist doctors and nurses in these primary care.

Provide home care

Or, the technical nursing professional can choose to work directly with the public they wish to serve or providing private services.

This care is generally provided at home, especially for the elderly, chronic or terminally ill patients who require more personal and personalized care.

How to become a nursing technician?

If now that you know what a nursing technician does, and want to know how you can follow this professional path, we will also help you.

In order for you to become a nursing technician, you must take a course that lasts 2 years, at a school that is registered with related bodies.

In the course, the professional takes several subjects related to the areas of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, fundamentals of nursing, child, adolescent, women's health and others.

For the training to be completed, the student must also complete a mandatory internship, and upon completion, they must register with the Nursing Council of the referring state.

What is the difference between a nursing technician and a nurse?

The nursing technician and nurse are professionals who work in the same area: health.

But they have different functions in this area, the technician has a different level of training than the nurse, the technician takes a two-year course while the nurse studies nursing for 4 years.

Furthermore, a nurse ends up having more responsibilities than a technician, he ends up having to make more decisions, often planning and coordinating other nurses.